LEADERSHIP Chairman Zainab Nda-Isaiah Joins First Lady At Abuja Startup Hub Groundbreaking

Chairman of LEADERSHIP Media Group Limited, Mrs Zainab Nda-Isaiah, on Friday joined Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and other dignitaries at the groundbreaking ceremony for a startup hub at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) in Wuye, Abuja.

The startup hub is a collaborative initiative of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and other stakeholders.

The initiative is designed to provide an environment where young Nigerians can develop their creative ideas and talents into scalable and sustainable businesses to drive economic growth, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Performing the foundation-laying ceremony, the First Lady said the initiative aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian youths and women in technology and expand the country’s digital ecosystem.

Senator Tinubu, who is also the chairperson of the Renewed Hope Initiative, expressed optimism that the hub would become a centre for innovation, incubation, research and development, helping young Nigerians develop solutions and access global markets.

She commended NITDA, JICA and the Japanese government for the partnership, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and Japan, stimulate economic growth and create jobs.

“I commend the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, and the entire team for their commitment in securing this partnership,” she said.

The First Lady said the establishment of startup hubs across the country aligned with the administration’s priorities on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, skills development and sustainable job creation.

According to her, the initiative would equip young Nigerians with the skills and opportunities needed to compete and thrive in the global economy.

“I’m informed that this start-up hub will serve as a national centre for incubation, hardware prototyping, research, and international business collaborations,” she said.

Addressing young innovators, Tinubu urged them to take advantage of the facility to transform their ideas into practical solutions and businesses.

“To our young innovators, this start-up hub is yours. You can arrive here with a sketch and leave with a working prototype that takes you into the global market space. Let this hub be the home where your dreams are nurtured and scaled,” she said.

She also expressed appreciation to Nigeria’s Japanese partners, saying their contribution demonstrated the value of international cooperation in creating opportunities for future generations.

“You have shown that true friendship between nations is measured by the opportunities it creates for the next generation,” she said.

The First Lady urged NITDA to ensure that the facility, when completed, would be accessible and inclusive, serving young people across the country.

Welcoming the First Lady and other dignitaries, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the hub would support the federal government’s efforts to promote digital inclusion and prosperity.

He said the agency had introduced programmes and projects aimed at empowering young people and women and preparing them to take advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).